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N.B.A. Draft Prospects Who Fit the Triangle Offense

Over the last week, the triangle offense has received a lot of attention.
Knicks boss Phil Jackson has given a series of interviews recently, and has made it clear that he wants free-flowing ball movement and shooters at all positions, and that he detests the modern reliance on pick-and-rolls and isolation.
Here are five draft prospects who would be good fits for the Knicks based on Jackson’s preferences and the demands of Tex Winter’s elaborate Triangle. (For the purposes of realism, Karl-Anthony Towns was excluded, as there is seemingly no way he could fall all the way to the No. 4 pick.)Related Article

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D'Angelo Russell would be the best option for the Knicks if he's available at No. 4.
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Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

GUARD

D’Angelo Russell

Ohio State

Russell has all of the makings of a star in the Triangle. He can shoot, he can pass, and he does not need to have the ball in his hands at all times to contribute to his team’s offense. Russell is slightly undersized for a shooting guard — he was measured at 6 feet 3¼ inches without shoes on — but the Triangle’s lack of traditional positioning would be a boon to him, and he could help create shots for Carmelo Anthony while taking plenty of his own.

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Jahlil Okafor can score and pass, which are key for big men in the triangle offense.
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Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CENTER

Jahlil Okafor

Duke

A big-bodied post presence who has shown the ability to score inside, Okafor has not demonstrated much of an outside game, but he is not a ball-stopper and can pass. Players of his skill set, size and pedigree have a strong track record, and if the Knicks are hoping not to return to the lottery for quite some time, there are few picks they could make with a better chance of becoming a quality player.

Porzingis believes he is the next Dirk Nowitzki, and plenty of scouts seem to agree, but some executives are all probably asking themselves if he is actually the next Darko Milicic. The undeniable facts about Porzingis are that he is quite tall — listed as 7-1 in most places — can shoot, and has had workouts that impressed everyone who saw them. All of those things were true of Nowitzki before he came into the league. But all of them were true of Milicic. It would be a risk to take Porzingis with such a high pick, but the potential reward is so high he has to be considered.

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Justise Winslow could provide some floor-spacing for the Knicks.
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Grant Halverson/Getty Images

GUARD/FORWARD

Justise Winslow

Duke

The Golden State Warriors just won the N.B.A. Finals playing the so-called three-and-D style, which puts a huge emphasis on 3-pointers and strong defense. While Jackson seems skeptical of overly relying on the 3-point shot, Winslow has to be an attractive asset considering his ability to contribute on both ends of the court and the added floor-spacing his strong shooting would provide.

Jackson has said he wants to build a great defense and then put together his offense. His best defensive option is Towns’s less-famous teammate Cauley-Stein. The second-tallest player measured at the draft combine, Cauley-Stein is 6 feet 11¼ inches without shoes and is in great shape. Offensively, he would be a work in progress, but until the team convinces Anthony that every play should not go through him, a player of Cauley-Stein’s defensive gifts would be hugely beneficial.